The South Siders beat the Halos, 2-1
The White Sox are finally back in the win column after a quiet game against their Opening Day matchup, with a 2-1 win over the Angels. While there weren’t many big moments or excitement, the South Siders won with only four hits.
Both teams would single in the first, which would lead to nowhere. Old friend Tim Anderson led off in the second inning and struck out swinging, the first of three easy outs in the top of the second. The White Sox would follow the Angels for a quick second inning.
The third started with a walk from Kevin Newman and a single from yet another old friend, Chuckie Robinson. Before any damage could be done, Tyler Ward grounded out into a double play, and Nolan Schanuel struck out swinging.
Travis Jankowski drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the third off a struggling Joel Hurtado, who took a ball off the chest from the batter before. Luis Robert Jr. singled, whereupon Halos skipper Ron Washington pulled his pitcher and replaced him with Ryan Zeferjahn. Ward, unable to glove Andrew Vaughn’s hit, allowed a two-run double, putting the South Siders on the board.
With two outs still, Miguel Vargas picked up a four-pitch walk. Ward was able to redeem himself after botching an easy catch by robbing Nick Maton of a hit.
The Angels were quiet for the top of the fourth, which ended with Martín Pérez whiffing Anderson looking. Korey Lee reached on a two-out single but was stranded by Michael A. Taylor to end the bottom of the fourth.
James Karinchak replaced Pérez, who pitched four solid shutout innings, and issued a one-out walk to Mickey Moniak — but Lee launched the ball to Maton, successfully picking off Moniak during Newman’s at-bat. Newman collected a walk after a battle with Karinchak and a lost challenge, putting him at a full count. Karinchak continued to have poor command, walking three straight batters with two outs. Robert saved the inning with a catch to strand two runners and keep the Halos off the board.
Kenley Jansen stepped in to pitch and retired the White Sox for an efficient inning. Dan Altavilla replaced Karinchak and gave up back-to-back walks with nine pitches and no outs. Altavilla lucked out when he sat down slugger Jorge Soler on strikes. Anderson got his revenge on a ground-ball single that snuck through, sending Schanuel home to cut the White Sox lead in half.
Even though Luis Rengifo struck out swinging, Altavilla got pulled after 25 pitches in the top half. Brandon Eisert came out and bounced back from a rough last outing, winning the battle against Moniak to strand runners at the corners.
The Halos get their fourth hit of the day with a lead-off single from Newman in the seventh. Justin Anderson struggled a little with his command, but got Lugo and Noda to strike out swinging. Walbert Urena shut out the White Sox in the bottom half of the seventh.
Jordan Leasure kept things quiet in the first half of the eighth, only giving up a single to Jo Adell. Unfortunately, the White Sox offense didn’t take advantage and had a quiet bottom half as well.
Cam Booser came in to close out the game and shut out the Angels, finally putting the White Sox back in the win column. Just one shy of double-figures for the spring!